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Researchers, policy makers, and practitioners from across Southern Africa and beyond will descend on the scenic Champagne Sports Resort in the central Maluti-Drakensberg for the highly anticipated Second Southern African Mountain Conference (SAMC2025) next week. From Monday 17 to Thursday 20 March, this landmark event – themed ‘Overcoming Boundaries and Barriers’ – will delve into critical issues around mountain ecosystems, communities, governance, and transboundary cooperation.

Under the patronage of UNESCO and organised by the University of the Free State(UFS) Afromontane Research Unit (ARU) – in partnership with the African Mountain Research Foundation (AMRF) and the Global Mountain Safeguard Research Programme (GLOMOS) – SAMC2025 will be the most influential mountain conference in the region to date.

With anticipation mounting, the ARU at the UFS is poised to host the Second Southern African Mountain Conference (SAMC2025) next week – a pivotal gathering aimed at elevating the regional discourse on mountain ecosystems. The Director of the ARU, Prof Vincent Clark, expressed enthusiasm for the event, emphasising its role in fostering a collaborative community of practice across research, policy, and implementation sectors. "Our mountains, despite their crucial role in water provision and rich cultural and biodiversity heritage, remain underrepresented in national and SADC-level policies," Prof Clark stated. The conference seeks to bridge this gap by driving sustainable interventions through robust science-policy engagement. A diverse cohort of students, academics, government officials, SADC representatives, international colleagues, and seasoned practitioners are expected to converge, creating a dynamic forum for those dedicated to the sustainable future of the region's mountain landscapes.

Strategic alignment

The SAMC series aims to create an enabling environment to foster dialogue and collaboration – and to grow careers – on sustainable mountain development. SAMC2025 builds on SAMC2022, but it has a much stronger policy and transboundary co-operation focus. The conference will serve as a platform for sharing cutting-edge research, innovative policy solutions, and best practices in mountain conservation and management.

High-level events include special sessions on Transboundary Water Management (funded by ReNOKA), SADC Transfrontier Conservation Areas (funded by GIZ), a proposed SADC-linked Southern African Mountain Treaty/Convention (convened by the Alpine Convention), and the first Royal Mountain Indaba – a joint initiative between UNESCO and the ARU. This indaba will focus on the unique cultural and ecological significance of mountain regions, exploring ways to integrate traditional knowledge with modern scientific approaches.

Prof Vasu Reddy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Internationalisation, said: “This conference advances the university’s aspirations in local and global terms by drawing attention to mountains, not simply as geological wonders or tourist attractions. Mountainscapes compels us to ask deeper questions about the science and meanings that shape it from a variety of disciplinary lenses.”

He added: “This conference opens up new pathways of knowledge to deepen the frontiers of science, giving further impetus to our research prospects that demonstrate excellence and impact.”

Keynote addresses by internationally renowned speakers

SAMC2025 boasts an impressive set of invited keynote speakers representing decades of experience in Southern African mountain ecosystems, communities, and governance.

Other distinguished speakers include the following:

• Opening keynote: Dr Willem Daffue has decades of experience in mountains around the world as a wildlife veterinarian and explorer. He will speak about the changes he has seen in African mountains in recent decades.
• Sissie Matela, Director of Environmental and Rural Solutions, will speak about her deep experience on building resilient communities through partnerships and healthy mountain ecosystems – a central theme of the conference.
• Minister Mohlomi Moleko, Minister of Natural Resources in the Kingdom of Lesotho, will provide insights on mountain policy and governance from the perspective of the ‘Kingdom in the Sky’.
• Prof Steve Goodman, MacArthur Field Biologist at the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, USA, and Vice-President of the Association Vahatra in Antananarivo, Madagascar, will share from his decades of experience on the ecology, biodiversity, and conservation status of the high mountains of Madagascar.

The conference will feature a diverse programme, including panel discussions, workshops, and poster presentations, covering topics such as:

• Climate change impacts on mountain ecosystems
• Sustainable agriculture and land management
• Biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services
• Community-based resource management
• Policy and governance for mountain regions